Chris Wedel

Senior Editor - Smart Home

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to get and stay online tricky. By utilizing his years of experience with the tech and mobile communications industries — success is assured. When not conquering connectivity challenges and testing new gadgets, he enjoys cruising a gravel road in his UTV with some good tunes.

Grid List

Latest articles by Chris Wedel

Philips Hue Ambiance Lights and Nanoleaf Canvas

Nanoleaf vs. Hue: Smart lighting titans with very different strategies

By Chris Wedel last updated 22 September 22

These two smart lighting innovators are both impressive, just in different ways.

Kasa Smart Video Doorbell Review: A promising video doorbell at a great price is held back ironically by money

By Chris Wedel published 22 September 22

Kasa's Smart Video Doorbell is almost perfect if it weren't for money.

How to reboot or factory reset a Wear OS watch

By Chris Wedel last updated 15 September 22

Smartwatches, like your laptop or smartphone, can get bogged down from time to time and need a refresh to get back to proper operation.

Best Alexa devices 2022

By Jeramy Johnson, Chris Wedel published 12 September 22

Alexa is showing up in more and more devices — but these are the best.

Bluetti EP500Pro Power Station review: The ultimate UPS backup and portable off-grid power system

By Chris Wedel published 11 September 22

Massive battery capacity and big-time output from the Bluetti EP500Pro keep the lights on longer.

Google Wallet on Wear OS device, TicWatch Pro 3

How to use Google Wallet on Wear OS devices

By Chris Wedel published 9 September 22

You can keep your wallet AND phone in your pocket with Google Wallet on your Wear OS watch.

Anker 757 PowerHouse portable power station

Anker 757 PowerHouse review: A power station that's ready when you want or need power

By Chris Wedel published 8 September 22

Ports, power, and preparedness are what the Anker 757 PowerHouse brings to your home.

Your Ring video doorbell just became more secure

By Chris Wedel published 7 September 22

In 2021 Ring brought end-to-end encryption to part of its line of camera-enabled products. Today, the security feature is expanding along with another helpful feature.

EBL Voyager 1000 Portable Power Station review: Offering big things in a small package

By Chris Wedel published 7 September 22

Don't sleep on this power station just because it's small, it'll shock you how powerful it is.

Smart Light Group Lifestyle Hue Lifx Wyze

Brightest LED smart bulbs 2022: The best lights for dark spaces

By Chris Wedel published 6 September 22

Get plenty of bright light for your space, without giving up any control.

The T-Mobile and Starlink partnership has me hopeful for my rural connectivity issues

By Chris Wedel published 4 September 22

T-Mobile and Starlink are pairing up to help eliminate dead zones in cellular coverage, and hope others join in. While it has a long way to go before it's ready, I'm still already excited about it.

Best Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra screen protectors 2022

By Chris Wedel published 2 September 22

Samsung displays are some of the best out there, and none are more impressive than the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Keep it safe with an excellent screen protector.

Samsung's new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro have the same old infectious problems

By Chris Wedel published 2 September 22

Last year, Samsung's Galaxy Buds Pro and Buds 2 began causing ear infections for many users. Fast forward to 2022, and the new Galaxy Buds 2 Pro seem to have brought along similar issues.

Best smart ceiling fans 2022

By Chris Wedel published 1 September 22

Smart light, check. Smart speakers, check. But have you thought about keeping your home cool or warm with a smart ceiling fan? Now's the time, and these are some of the best.

Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 review: Makes fitness fun, but chores a chore

By Chris Wedel published 31 August 22

A fun way to encourage your young ones to stay active.

Best smart thermostat 2022

By Chris Wedel published 31 August 22

From automating the temperature of your home, to saving you money, the best can do it all

Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box vs Govee DreamView T1 TV Backlight

Philips Hue vs Govee: To bridge or not to bridge

By Chris Wedel last updated 22 September 22

Philips Hue has been one of the most reliable smart lighting brands for years now, but competitors like Govee are making waves in the space. Which should you pick?

eufy SoloCam S40 review: There's little this all-in-one camera can't do

By Chris Wedel published 29 August 22

Battery-powered cameras and solar panels aren't anything new, but a camera with a built-in solar panel is a rarity. The eufy SoloCam S40 nails it along with many other excellent features.

Best security cameras with local storage 2022

By Jeramy Johnson, Chris Wedel published 25 August 22

No need to depend on the cloud for your security footage with these cameras.

How to set up the Look and Talk feature on a Nest Hub Max

By Chris Wedel published 25 August 22

Google announced the new Look and Talk feature for the Nest Hub Max at Google I/O 2022. Now it's time to get your smart display looking and ready for your next request.

Best Anker power banks 2022

By Chris Wedel last updated 26 August 22

Big or small, Anker has it all.

Angel Watch Series R kids smartwatch review: An ambitious kids wearable with a tarnished halo

By Chris Wedel published 24 August 22

The Angel Watch Series R tries to help you watch over your child, but may need someone to watch it instead.

Best smart LED light bulbs that work with Google Home 2022

By Chris Wedel published 23 August 22

Here's a bright idea — connect these LED smart bulbs to your Google Home and control it all with your voice. Here are our top recommendations.

Lockly Flex Touch Fingerprint Deadbolt review: Your finger has all the power

By Chris Wedel published 22 August 22

A clean look with biometric security to keep your door secure.

Best eufy home security devices 2022

By Chris Wedel published 21 August 22

Home security can mean different things to different people. But one common thread is that everyone wants to feel secure, and eufy has a great lineup of devices to help with that.

12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives

Android Central Newsletter

Get the best of Android Central in in your inbox, every day!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands

Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

Thank you for signing up to Android Central. You will receive a verification email shortly.

There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over.

1
Pixel Watch retail box revealed as Google preps for the big launch
2
Android users aren't that impressed by the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island
3
Which phones work with Republic Wireless?
4
New look at Android Auto 'Coolwalk' redesign shows a neat Spotify widget
5
The Huawei Mate 50 Pro launches internationally with a questionable price tag